Motor Racing, H:O Scale Slot Cars, Classic Cars, the building of my slot car circuit

Les courses automobiles francaises et voitures classiques

Sunday 20 April 2014

Les Ancêtres Automobiles Sancerre 2014

Beautifully restored Renault Dauphine and BMW

On 19th March 2014 we were spending a weekend near Sancerre and joined up with Les Ancêtres Automobiles club from Orleans when they were having a tasting at Regis and Laurent Godelu's winery near Bué.   They had an impressive selection of cars including a 1950's Chevrolet Corvette and a Ferrari Dino.  Enjoy the pictures below.

Citroen Avant

Simca
Chevrolet Corvette
Gulf liveried Burton kit car based on 2CV chassis
Triumph Spitfire
I am always happy to see an Alfa Romeo

Peugeot 203
You are always sure to see a Citroen 2CV
A Simca Aronde Montlhéry
Renault Dauphine
Chevrolet Corvette
Forgot to note what this was but lovely car anyway.  Is it an NG?
Triumph TR3
Open top VW Beetle
Panhard PL17
Ferrari Dino 246
Another Renault Dauphine
Simca
Citroen Avant
A Mini
On the way to lunch in St Satur

Saturday 19 April 2014

2014 TOUR AUTO Optic 2000

Model of Vaux-le-Vicomte at France Minature
On Tuesday 8th April 2014 the 24th Tour Auto took place and the participants started officially from the Chateau Vaux-Le-Vicomte and set off towards to Dijon.  We joined them close to Chablis and took the lovely pictures that accompany this post.   It is lovely seeing these old sports, touring and GT cars on real roads rather than modern race tracks.  This reflects the real tradition of motor racing in France.   On Saturday 12th April the cars finally arrived in the old port of Marseilles and the AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan was declared the winner.
Shaun Lynn in the winning AC Cobra driving towards Chablis
The winning 1963 AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn about to enter Chablis.
The main competition to Shaun Lynn came from a number of other AC Cobras, especially that of Ludovic Caron, and some Jaguar E Types.
4th placed Jean-Marc Merlin in his beautiful 1963 AC Cobra driving through Maligny
Hugo Payen at speed in the 3rd placed 1963 Jaguar E Type
There was some nice racing exotica present as well as the E Types and Cobras such as the GT 40s and particularly the Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan.  I saw the Breadvan at speed leaving Maligny and then later broken down just outside of Chablis.  Luckily the mechanics got it going again.
Chris Wilson in his 1964 Ford GT40 passing the Chateau in Maligny
Martin Halusa in the rare Ferrari Breadvan near Maligny
Ferrari Breadvan undergoing repairs outside of Chablis
Repairs continue
The V12 Ferrari engine is a work of art!
As well as the famous cars there were a number of famous ex-F1, sports car and rally drivers in the field including Rauno Aaltonen, Olivier Panis, Erik Comas and Jurgen Barth.
Erik Comas in the 1974 Grp4 Lancia Stratos
Olivier Panis in the Ferrari 308GTB
Jurgen Barth in the 1973 Porsche 911RSR passing the famous Chablis vines
It was not all about overall victory and famous cars and drivers.  Everyone was racing for victory in the Index of Performance and in their class.
Runner-up in the Index of performance was Vincent Tourneur in this 1954 Porsche 356
Winner of his class was Roman Rocher in his 1966 Porsche 906
2nd in the same historical category was Philippe Vandromme in his 1967 Ford GT40
3rd in his historical category was Jean-Claude Basso in his BMW 3.0CSL
The feature of the 2014 Tour Optic was the honour given to the BMW and Minis many of which had competed in the early events.
The 1965 Ausin Cooper S of Jean-Louis Lachet in Maligny
Siegfried Brunn and his 1961 BMW 700S in Maligny
Julien Lemeille and the 1965 BMW 1800Ti pass the Chateau in Maligny
Arnaud Gaudel and the 1971 BMW 2800CS and the Chablis vines
Perhaps the marque that seemed the most represented was my favourite - Alfa Romeo. They were represented from the 50s through the 70s and even included a police car!
Pierre Adamski and 1973 Alfa Romeo Guilia Super police car
Beautiful 1962 Alfa Romeo Guilieta SZT crosses the bridge in Maligny
1961 Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint Veloce passes the Chateau in Maligny
Jean Laurent-Bellue in the 1963 Alfa Romeo TZ
Charles Nearburg's 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600GTA
Many other marques were represented including Mercedes, Alpine Renault, MG, Austin Healey, De Tomasco, Triumph, Lotus, Citroen, Renault etc.
1965 MGB of Eugene Deleplanque
A pair of 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwings pass through Maligny

1954 Austin Healey 100/4 of Stefano Frischa
1967 Renault 8 Gordini of Gerard Salat in Maligny
Stephane Guyot-Sionnest and 1957 Triumph TR3
1964 Lotus Elan 26R of Mike Humphreys
Norbert Fradin thundering past the Chablis vines in his 1972 De Tomaso Pantera
1973 Alpine Renault A110 of Christian Chamboral
The 1970 Citroen Maserati SM of Eric Belooussoff in Chablis
If you are still not convinced to come to next year's event, here are a few more of my favourite pictures from the day.
Terence W Hefty and his 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20S
Dominique Vuillaume and 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1300S heads out off Maligny
Thanks for hooting as you drove past!
One of there largest cars, a 1963 Ford Galaxie of Stephane Sabates
Another Ford, this time a 1965 Mustang 289
A real beauty, the 1965 Ferrari 275GTB of Eric Everard
The Mr John of B/Sibel 1966 Porsche 906 races by the vines
1971 Porsche 914/6 GT of Jacques Bertoni
After seeing all these cars we retired into Chablis to visit one of our favourite wine makers and restaurants - Daniel-Etienne Defaix in Chablis.  He is unusual in that he sells mature Chablis - we sampled the 2003 1er Cru Vaillon and would recommend it.
At Daniel-Etienne Defaix's restaurant - La Cuisine au Vin.
The photographer, John Etherton asserts his copyright to all photos in this blog.  If you are the owner or driver of these cars please email me at rouenlesafx@gmail.com should you wish a full format copy of any of these photos.

One of the older cars, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 of Didier Benaroya